Nathan Emary has been studying IT, alongside Essential Skills, and was drawn to the JGW+ pathway after finishing school as it offered him work experience and a chance to earn money. This was particularly of interest to Nathan who was building a PC at the time and wanted to gain some additional IT skills as well as funds to be able to finance the project.

鈥淭he atmosphere [within JGW+] is like no other,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 get along with all the learners there and the class is very welcoming. My tutor Matt is the best, I鈥檝e never clicked with anyone in the role like him and the way he lets everyone learn at their own pace is very refreshing – it definitely allows me to fully take in anything he is teaching.

鈥淗e will also be happy to go over anything with me personally and is always available for a general chat even with teaching multiple students at once.鈥�

Nathan will now be heading to Legal and General and undertaking a foundation apprentice in Customer Services and Providing Financial Services with He will be responsible for checking and processing documents.

鈥淢y time at 麻豆社区 has definitely helped me with the hybrid work environment I will have at Legal and General as we are virtual 2-3 days a week.

鈥淸In terms of skills gained at 麻豆社区] communication and collaboration are key and these have helped me significantly.”

Despite just landing the role, Nathan is keen to not rest on his laurels and has big aspirations for his future career.

鈥淚n the long term I would like to be in charge of my own company. I want to move up in Legal and General, gaining the most experience and qualifications, and hopefully moving to a managing position. I eventually want to start my own business involving smart technology.鈥�

Matthew Hillier, Nathan’s IT tutor at 麻豆社区, said: “Nathan has been an absolute pleasure to have in IT on JGW+. Supporting Nathan to grow and develop through the course has been a privilege and I am inspired by of all of the progress he has made and the challenges he has overcome.

“Nathan has now secured an amazing opportunity with Legal & General, which I am confident he will excel in and prove to be a strong asset to the company. I am enormously proud of Nathan and wish him all of the very best with his future.”

If you are 16 to 19 years old and would like to learn more about 麻豆社区 + you can find further details and courses here.

Apprenticeships are a great way to upskill existing members of staff at all levels of seniority within a business. Subjects range from social media and finance to customer service and management, meaning that no matter what industry you鈥檙e in you will find a topic to interest and benefit you.听

A perfect example of the diversity of work-based learning is David Chaffey鈥檚 apprenticeship journey. David is a Switchboard Operator at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, he is the first point of contact for the telecommunication service at the board.听

His role involves providing a fast, friendly and efficient service to fellow employees, members of the general public and other partner organisations.听

A keen learner, David undertook the Level 3 IT Users qualification to boost his proficiency in the tools he used each day, although it wasn鈥檛 without its challenges.听

David is visually impaired and uses a JAWS screen reader to help complete tasks.听听

鈥淚 wanted to have a better understanding of Office 365 and how I could use it to maximise whatever work I am doing, alongside my screen reader,鈥� David explained.听

And it wasn鈥檛 long before he was able to transfer the skills developed within the qualification to everyday role.听

He said:

鈥淭he course gave me the confidence, skills and knowledge to be able to use Office 365 in a whole new way.听听

鈥淧rior to it I used Outlook and Word, but that was about it. Since undertaking the course, I am happy to use the entirety of the Office suite which has not only benefitted me in my current role but has enabled me to maximise it in my secondment role as a Disability Inclusion Officer.鈥�听

One of the advantages to an apprenticeship is that the course is flexible and can be completed parallel to your role, complimenting your work.听

鈥淭his style of learning suited me as I could work, but still learn and develop my skills and knowledge, applying it to my work environment and gaining real life experience,鈥� David said.听

If learners have additional needs that must be considered while they are working towards their qualification, 麻豆社区 can make changes or adaptions. In David鈥檚 case, he had a reader and writer to help him with the completion of coursework.听听

鈥淚 have received excellent support throughout the course,鈥� David said. 鈥淚 will admit I nearly didn鈥檛 finish it but luckily with the support that I received from the tutors and the reader and writer, I have now achieved this goal and I must admit it is the best feeling.鈥�听

Learners looking to undertake a work-based apprenticeship may need to complete Essential Skills 鈥� a set of qualifications to ensure the learner has a solid foundation in maths, communication and digital literacy. Not only did David complete his IT course, he also achieved his Essential Skills boosting his confidence and employability skills.听

David鈥檚 tutor at 麻豆社区, Caitlin Edmonds, said: 鈥淒avid has excelled in his courses, particularly in the speaking and listening tasks. Something that stuck with me was his confidence in his presentation explaining how he has been helping to revamp and train others in the health board to ensure that each visually impaired person has the little things in place for them when arriving at the hospital.听听

鈥淒avid had a calm and confident approach to learning and never let his disability get in his way. Every time he completed a qualification, he reflected on how well he had done, how much he had learnt and overcome to achieve his goal.鈥�听

The course aims to bridge communication gaps and support employers and employees in generating a more diverse and accessible working environment. With over 500,000 people in Wales reported to have hearing loss, the significance of such training cannot be overstated.听

Participants will be taught through a combination of face-to-face teaching, self-study and online resources, giving them a blended learning approach that is flexible and fits around their working day. Evening sessions are available to accommodate individual and business schedules. This training is available at Level 1, 2 and 3 through PTFE funding, subject to eligibility, for those who wish to learn a new language with its own distinct grammar and dialect.听

BSL is not limited in its applications. It is a tool for communicating with the deaf community but can also be implemented as a Health and Safety measure and a method of communicating when English is not the shared language.听听

The advantages of acquiring BSL proficiency also extend beyond personal development; impacting workforce skills, customer service delivery, and internal Diversity, Equality and Inclusion training.听听

Newly appointed, Director of Delivery at ALS, Fiona Argent said 鈥淲e believe this course is significant to our growth as an organisation and for the communities we serve. Our courses are fully funded and flexible to suit the needs of individual learners and organisations鈥�听

听ALS board Director, Sarah John, said 鈥淭he new fully funded opportunity to learn BSL is a reflection of the way ALS engages with organisations and awarding bodies like Signature, to meet the demands of employers and learners on a local basis and is key to maintaining ALS鈥檚 position as a leading training provider,”听

BSL training will not only leave you with an understanding of the structure and practical uses of sign language it will also provide insight into the rich cultural heritage of this visual language.听

Take the first step today and sign up to find out more about our BSL qualifications.听

*All ALS funding is subject to eligibility听听

Upskilling is a hot topic for any business leader at the moment. Anyone in a hiring position will know the current struggle of finding the right talent in an increasingly competitive market.

And if you鈥檙e feeling that the talent pool is shrinking, you鈥檙e not alone. An alarming report recently published by the CIPD shows skills shortages have more than doubled in Wales from 9,000 in 2017 to 20,600 in 2022. At the same time, more than a third of job vacancies were deemed 鈥榟ard to fill鈥� owing to the quality of applicants and a lack of necessary skills.

It comes as no surprise then that businesses are looking to their existing workforce instead, upskilling their teams to help bridge this widening skills gap.

Development and upskilling consistently places in the most sought-after workplace 鈥榖enefits鈥� for potential employees, with LinkedIn鈥檚 Global Talent Trends data finding that companies that help their employees build skills have a higher internal mobility rate than those who did not prioritise development. With that in mind, it鈥檚 no wonder that two thirds of employers are investing in training to upskill their current workforce.

Upskilling is beneficial for both business and individual, as well as the wider workforce. It provides the opportunity to learn new, highly desirable and transferable skills that then mean that companies obtain and retain staff with up-to-date knowledge relating to their role.

Upskilling also offers the chance to fully customise a role to your business needs, showing that you believe an employee is worth investing in and are supporting them in their future aspirations and career progression. Upskilling may seem like a daunting investment, but it shouldn’t be. At 麻豆社区, as Wales鈥� leading training provider, we have worked with more than 14,000 businesses across the country supporting them and their staff with their work-based learning needs, including apprenticeships.

Courses range from digital marketing and customer service to accountancy and facilities management, and many more. They are suitable for employees beginning their journey in a specific role as well as senior staff looking to boost their skillset.

Qualifications are fully funded by the Welsh Government and offer flexible learning in at the workplace, in workshops and online.

While it is a common misconception that apprenticeships are for specific 鈥� often manual 鈥� jobs, and for those just starting out in their career, this couldn鈥檛 be further from the truth. Apprenticeships are undertaken at any age, in any sector and by employees with all different levels of experience.

Apprenticeships can be delivered flexibly to the needs of the sector, business and learner – whether upskilling someone already in a role or offering an apprenticeship as an entry point into your organisation.

Coursework can be completed around a project that the learner is looking to implement within their company, showcasing what must be done and the action plan needed to do it.

Upskilling is rapidly become not just a 鈥榥ice to offer鈥� perk of the job but an essential factor not just for job seekers but for businesses who are investing in their own growth as well as their employees鈥�. You can find out more about how work-based learning can work for you by dropping us a line here.

麻豆社区 was awarded a place in the top five education and training organisations nationally, and for the eighth consecutive year placed in the top 100 large companies to work for in the UK at the 2023 Best Companies award ceremony.

Best Companies recognises small, mid-size, large and big businesses across different regions and sectors throughout the UK, rating them on important factors such as wellbeing, leadership and fair pay.

Head of People and Development at 麻豆社区, Rebecca Cooper, said: 鈥淲e are over the moon to have secured a place in the top 100 large companies to work for in the UK for the eighth consecutive year and to be named one of the top five Education and Training companies.

鈥溌槎股缜� prioritises staff happiness and engagement, which is one of our strategic aims, and this achievement helps us to measure that. We are even prouder that we have achieved this even though the last few years have been very challenging for the UK as a result of the pandemic and cost of living pressures.

鈥淔or us, happy staff results in excellent customer service to our learners who remain at the heart of everything we do.鈥�

麻豆社区鈥檚 Managing Director Richard Spear added: 鈥淲e are delighted to be in the top-100 best companies to work for yet again. Staff happiness has been a strategic aim at 麻豆社区 for many years. We feel it is the right thing to focus on and are convinced that the happier and more engaged our team are, the better job they will do for the learners, employers or colleagues that they support.

鈥淲e are currently implementing engagement plans based on the data from last year鈥檚 survey and are working hard to make sure 麻豆社区 is an even greater place to work.鈥�

麻豆社区 has been an accredited 鈥極utstanding Company to Work For鈥� with Best Companies for nearly a decade and is dedicated to ensuring it remains a company of choice for people looking for a career in education.

麻豆社区 was awarded a place in the top five education and training organisations nationally, and for the 8th consecutive year placed in the top 100 large companies to work for in the UK at the 2023 Best Companies award ceremony.

麻豆社区 is Wales鈥� largest training provider. Since its formation in 1988, it has helped more than 75,000 learners achieve their career goals, working with over 14,000 employers across Wales. From young people entering the world of work for the first time to senior managers and executives and everything in between, 麻豆社区 is passionate about improving lives through learning and supporting Welsh businesses to upskill their workforce.

As Project Coordinator for Cwmpas, an economic development agency Thomas was keen to expand his social media knowledge further and signed up for a听Level 3 Social Media for Business qualification.听听

鈥淚 was looking to undertake something new and social media was an area of my role where I felt I could learn more. For me, the qualification offered a free learning opportunity which I鈥檇 be accredited for at the end of it.鈥�听

The Level 3 Social Media for Business Apprenticeship supports learners in developing various digital media skills that can be transferable across many sectors. Equipping learners with the skills knowledge and competency to support business systems, processes and services, the qualification enables learners to use social media in a more efficient and productive way.听

Speaking about the qualification, Thomas commented, 鈥淚鈥檝e really enjoyed the qualification and liked that I got to pick and choose the units that best suited my work needs. There are mandatory units to cover your core knowledge but then there鈥檚 a huge choice around the units you can tailor fit around you. It enables you to both grow your knowledge and your confidence at the same time.听听

鈥淔or me learning about Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and increasing brand visibility was essential learning for engagement. The outcome is that I鈥檝e adapted my approach and engagement with my network has really improved without necessarily advertising.鈥�听

Thomas is a firm advocator of upskilling on the job and believes apprenticeships are a smart and savvy choice for anyone looking to boost their career progression 鈥� especially in the current economic climate.听听

I鈥檝e always had a big drive and ambition to improve my education. I knew I was worthy of a meaningful career and greater opportunities and recognised I needed to demonstrate that to make it happen. I took the advantage of free training in Wales!听

鈥淚鈥檝e seen a shift from wanting specific A 鈥楲evels and degrees when hiring, to businesses like Cwmpas that want people to have a good standard of education which is representative of the role you鈥檙e going for. This is where apprenticeships come in massively! I鈥檝e not got a degree in Management but I do have a range of qualifications in Leadership & Management, Business Administration and now social media. It makes up a nice package of skills!听听

Social Media particularly, is vital in today鈥檚 market place as it allows businesses to both attract and engage customers, while increasing market reach. Through his Social Media for Business qualification, Thomas can devise and implement marketing campaigns ideas to drive business and raise the visibility of his current work project.听

鈥淭he biggest thing the qualification has given me is the confidence that I鈥檓 doing something right. You鈥檙e more likely to perform your job better if you feel confident. This qualification gives you tools so you have the knowledge, confidence, experience and know how to figure out how best to adapt your approach.鈥�听

Navigating an apprenticeship alongside work commitments may seem overwhelming but Thomas stresses that with commitment and support, an apprenticeship is a viable option for anyone in the workplace.听听

I would absolutely recommend apprenticeships to anyone. They鈥檙e not something you do when you鈥檙e young and you think you鈥檙e not academic. This perception is wrong! Apprenticeships are a viable way of upskilling yourself, showing your responsible and committed to learning while gaining confidence and being an asset to your workplace.听 Also, they鈥檙e free!听听

鈥淭he support from 麻豆社区 has been fantastic too. The assessors have always been on hand and provided a great deal of reassurance, guidance and been really encouraging and flexible. My value in the workplace has increased since undertaking my apprenticeships and I鈥檓 now in a position to share my knowledge with others in the business.鈥�听

Despite only recently completing his Social Media for Business qualification, Thomas has already set his sights on further qualifications which will enable him to reach his goal of becoming a Business Advisor.听听

鈥淚鈥檝e applied to do Community Shares Practitioner Training which will demonstrate my skills as a Business Advisor. For me, it鈥檚 about future proofing myself and gaining all the skills I can.鈥�听

If you鈥檇 like to learn more about Social Media for Business and how it can future proof your career听click here.

鈥淧rior to my Apprenticeship I was working in a coffee shop, and I knew that it was not what I wanted to do long term,鈥� Carley explains, 鈥淚 had worked in hospitality and retail since I was in my early teens, but I was finding it very hard to branch away from this as I didn鈥檛 have relevant experience.鈥�

At the age of 21, Carley started looking for Apprenticeships based in her home-town of Newport, applying for a one-year Business Administration Level 2 qualification and becoming one of the City Council鈥檚 first ever apprentices in the process.

鈥淏eing one of the original apprentices was a very exciting time, it was a new experience for the apprentices, the teams that we were placed in, and Newport City Council as a whole,鈥� Carley says. 鈥淭he amount of effort and time that went into training us and ensuring that we had everything we needed to continue on our career paths was incredible.鈥�

鈥淚t has also been a strange journey for me, however, as in the time since my Apprenticeship I have been diagnosed with a degenerative condition that affects my sight. Due to this I have since been registered blind, so I am very lucky that I have received continuous support from colleagues, managers and HR to work around this and find ways to work that suit me too.鈥�

Placed within the Education department, Carley鈥檚 Apprenticeship involved supporting the Early Years Integration team by managing calendars, booking and attending meetings, completing digital filing and as a point of contact for partners and nursery settings. She also got to visit early years settings and attend panel meetings, giving her a first-hand understanding of the team鈥檚 aims and objectives too.

That was five years ago, and Carley has been employed by Newport City Council ever since, working as a Customer Services Officer, School Support Officer, Administrator with the Child Protection Unit, and currently as a Business Support Officer with the Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (VAWDASV) team.

The Apprenticeship has opened so many doors for me and it has set me up on a career path that I thoroughly enjoy.

鈥淢y goals for the future now are to continue my career journey within Newport City Council, wherever that may take me, and to continue to adapt to working life with my condition.鈥� Carley said.

鈥淚 would absolutely recommend an Apprenticeship and my advice to young people who are considering this route is that it is truly invaluable. For me, it was a perfect balance of work-based experience and learning an Apprenticeship.鈥�

If you want to find out more about apprenticeship opportunities currently available听head here.

As Project Coordinator for Cwmpas, an economic development agency Thomas was keen to expand his social media knowledge further and signed up for a Level 3 Social Media for Business qualification.听听

鈥淚 was looking to undertake something new and social media was an area of my role where I felt I could learn more. For me, the qualification offered a free learning opportunity which I’d be accredited for at the end of it.鈥�听

The Level 3 Social Media for Business Apprenticeship supports learners in developing various digital media skills that can be transferable across many sectors. Equipping learners with the skills knowledge and competency to support business systems, processes and services, the qualification enables learners to use social media in a more efficient and productive way.听

Speaking about the qualification, Thomas commented, 鈥淚鈥檝e really enjoyed the qualification and liked that I got to pick and choose the units that best suited my work needs. There are mandatory units to cover your core knowledge but then there鈥檚 a huge choice around the units you can tailor fit around you. It enables you to both grow your knowledge and your confidence at the same time.听听

鈥淔or me learning about Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and increasing brand visibility was essential learning for engagement. The outcome is that I鈥檝e adapted my approach and engagement with my network has really improved without necessarily advertising.鈥�听

Thomas is a firm advocator of upskilling on the job and believes apprenticeships are a smart and savvy choice for anyone looking to boost their career progression 鈥� especially in the current economic climate.听听

I鈥檝e always had a big drive and ambition to improve my education. I knew I was worthy of a meaningful career and greater opportunities and recognised I needed to demonstrate that to make it happen. I took the advantage of free training in Wales!听

鈥淚鈥檝e seen a shift from wanting specific A 鈥楲evels and degrees when hiring, to businesses like Cwmpas that want people to have a good standard of education which is representative of the role you鈥檙e going for. This is where apprenticeships come in massively! I鈥檝e not got a degree in Management but I do have a range of qualifications in Leadership & Management, Business Administration and now social media. It makes up a nice package of skills!听听

Social Media particularly, is vital in today鈥檚 market place as it allows businesses to both attract and engage customers, while increasing market reach. Through his Social Media for Business qualification, Thomas can devise and implement marketing campaigns ideas to drive business and raise the visibility of his current work project.听

鈥淭he biggest thing the qualification has given me is the confidence that I鈥檓 doing something right. You鈥檙e more likely to perform your job better if you feel confident. This qualification gives you tools so you have the knowledge, confidence, experience and know how to figure out how best to adapt your approach.鈥�听

Navigating an apprenticeship alongside work commitments may seem overwhelming but Thomas stresses that with commitment and support, an apprenticeship is a viable option for anyone in the workplace.听听

I would absolutely recommend apprenticeships to anyone. They鈥檙e not something you do when you鈥檙e young and you think you鈥檙e not academic. This perception is wrong! Apprenticeships are a viable way of upskilling yourself, showing your responsible and committed to learning while gaining confidence and being an asset to your workplace.听 Also, they鈥檙e free! 听

鈥淭he support from 麻豆社区 has been fantastic too. The assessors have always been on hand and provided a great deal of reassurance, guidance and been really encouraging and flexible. My value in the workplace has increased since undertaking my apprenticeships and I’m now in a position to share my knowledge with others in the business.鈥�听

Despite only recently completing his Social Media for Business qualification, Thomas has already set his sights on further qualifications which will enable him to reach his goal of becoming a Business Advisor.听听

鈥淚鈥檝e applied to do Community Shares Practitioner Training which will demonstrate my skills as a Business Advisor. For me, it鈥檚 about future proofing myself and gaining all the skills I can.鈥�听

If you鈥檇 like to learn more about Social Media for Business and how it can future proof your career click here.

鈥淧rior to my Apprenticeship I was working in a coffee shop, and I knew that it was not what I wanted to do long term,鈥� Carley explains, 鈥淚 had worked in hospitality and retail since I was in my early teens, but I was finding it very hard to branch away from this as I didn鈥檛 have relevant experience.鈥�

At the age of 21, Carley started looking for Apprenticeships based in her home-town of Newport, applying for a one-year Business Administration Level 2 qualification and becoming one of the City Council鈥檚 first ever apprentices in the process.

鈥淏eing one of the original apprentices was a very exciting time, it was a new experience for the apprentices, the teams that we were placed in, and Newport City Council as a whole,鈥� Carley says. 鈥淭he amount of effort and time that went into training us and ensuring that we had everything we needed to continue on our career paths was incredible.鈥�

鈥淚t has also been a strange journey for me, however, as in the time since my Apprenticeship I have been diagnosed with a degenerative condition that affects my sight. Due to this I have since been registered blind, so I am very lucky that I have received continuous support from colleagues, managers and HR to work around this and find ways to work that suit me too.鈥�

Placed within the Education department, Carley鈥檚 Apprenticeship involved supporting the Early Years Integration team by managing calendars, booking and attending meetings, completing digital filing and as a point of contact for partners and nursery settings. She also got to visit early years settings and attend panel meetings, giving her a first-hand understanding of the team鈥檚 aims and objectives too.

That was five years ago, and Carley has been employed by Newport City Council ever since, working as a Customer Services Officer, School Support Officer, Administrator with the Child Protection Unit, and currently as a Business Support Officer with the Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (VAWDASV) team.

The Apprenticeship has opened so many doors for me and it has set me up on a career path that I thoroughly enjoy.

鈥淢y goals for the future now are to continue my career journey within Newport City Council, wherever that may take me, and to continue to adapt to working life with my condition.鈥滳arley said.

鈥淚 would absolutely recommend an Apprenticeship and my advice to young people who are considering this route is that it is truly invaluable. For me, it was a perfect balance of work-based experience and learning an Apprenticeship.鈥�

If you want to find out more about apprenticeship opportunities currently available head here.

Businesses have been getting social during National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) 2023 at an event held to highlight the benefits of investing in Digital 麻豆社区, as the number of learners applying for digital marketing apprenticeships in Wales continues to rise.

An experienced Digital and Social Media professional with over 20 years’ experience, the respected digital marketeer was also the editorial figurehead for the BBC Content Social (TV & iPlayer) division, leading the development and execution of BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Four, BBC Comedy, BBC iPlayer and BBC Masterbrand鈥檚 social media strategies.

At the event, he highlighted the business benefits of investing in Digital 麻豆社区, and helped businesses and learners gathered to think about their digital work and needs, and how they can grow in this area.

Mr Williams, now Managing Director at social media marketing specialist Siml, told those gathered: 鈥淭he 鈥楬oly Trinity鈥� of creating social media content that engages and inspires people is best defined as giving your followers information, helping to give them a better sense of identity and evoking an emotional reaction in them when they see what you are posting.鈥�

We are talking about globally borderless platforms where the potential reach for your personal or professional brand is absolutely massive, and where being accessible and engaging in the communities relevant to what you do, and in the conversations those groups of people are having, really can result in significant successes in business terms.

As Wales鈥� leading provider of apprenticeships, 麻豆社区 has seen a consistent uplift in the number of fully-funded digital courses it is now working to deliver across Wales in recent years.

The number of tutors recruited to its Digital Services Team has also expanded four-fold within that time, and now offers qualifications in Digital 麻豆社区, Digital Learning Practitioners, Social Media for Business and Digital Application Support.

Richard Spear, Managing Director at 麻豆社区, 鈥淲e are absolutely over the moon to have secured such a high-profile, well respected digital marketeer to come and talk to our guests, and can鈥檛 thank Owen enough for his time.鈥�

Richard said 鈥淥wen highlighted the importance of social media in reaching new customers. Unfortunately, many businesses do not have the skills to use this key tool effectively and are therefore missing out on growth.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 why we are using National Apprenticeship Week to highlight the amazing opportunities available through the Welsh Government鈥檚 apprenticeship programme. Our digital marketing apprenticeship, for example, has helped learners embark on an exciting new career and supported businesses to achieve their potential鈥�

鈥淎s well as our fantastic Digital Services programmes we have a huge range of apprenticeship opportunities and would encourage employers to get in touch to find out how to take advantage of these highly-effective fully-funded training programmes鈥� Richard added.

For more information on our apprenticeship programme or digital qualifications, visit